Science & Society
- Science & Society
Redrawing political boundaries may alter rates of violent crime
The way politicians draw boundaries for voting districts could affect not only who wins elections, but also where rates of violent crime may rise.
- Oceans
More than half the world’s ocean area is actively fished
Fleets harvest fish from 55 percent of the world’s total ocean area. Just a handful of countries play an outsized role fishing the open ocean, far from coasts.
- Science & Society
Legendary physicist Stephen Hawking dies at 76
Theoretical research by Stephen Hawking helped shape how scientists and the public alike would come to understand black holes and other facets of astrophysics.
- Genetics
Can DNA editing save endangered species?
Scientists may be able to help endangered species by changing the genes of a whole population of wild animals. But some question whether that is wise.
- Space
Most Americans would welcome a microbial E.T.
People are more likely to welcome than be scared by new evidence pointing to extraterrestrial life, Americans report — at least if the E.T.’s are tiny.
- Tech
In bobsledding, what the toes do can affect who gets the gold
South Korean scientists have been developing shoes that could give their national bobsled team an advantage at the Olympics.
- Science & Society
Why many Olympic athletes have early birthdays
When kids start out in sports, coaches tend to pick the biggest as the best. Here’s what scientists are trying to do about it.
- Health & Medicine
Don’t blame the rats for spreading the Black Death
Popular history says millions of people died of the Black Death in the Middle Ages after being bit by fleas living on rats. But human fleas may be the real culprits, a new study finds.
- Computing
Smartphones put your privacy at risk
Smartphones have become essential companions. But they can leak data about you. In fact, the potential for invading your privacy is higher than you might think.
- Science & Society
Kids make great citizen scientists
When professional scientists need help from a crowd, they often turn to kids and teens.
- Health & Medicine
High-nicotine e-cigs up chance teen will become a smoker
New study links vaping high levels of nicotine to greater likelihood teens will vape — and smoke — six months later.
- Tech
This robot won’t trip people up
New robots can follow the social rules of moving through a crowd, such as keeping to the right and passing on the left.
